The Scout is optimized for the anti-air role. Compared to the wraith, it has greater durability but no cloaking device, and is slower without the Gravitic Thrusters upgrade. Both have strong anti-air attack to counter heavily armored flyers, and weak ground attacks. Ground anti-air units counter the Scout.

In the StarCraft alpha, Scouts were armed with disruptors.[3] In the StarCraft beta, Scout engines produced green exhaust instead of their current blue.[4] Scouts also used their anti-matter missiles against ground targets.[5]